[Noisebridge-discuss] I am interested in starting an optimization group at noisebridge (BetterBridge? TrollSearch?)

[Crutcher Dunnavant]

The ML group seems to have grown up quite a bit since the last time I paid
attention; and I think I should start participating; as the page lists many
things I'd like to learn and play with.

I am specifically suggesting a group-project oriented group; rather than a
research group or class. Something that would yield finished projects;
something where we collaborate on a common code base and problem set, beat
it to death, publish it (5mof?); and move on to the next one.

There are many applications of metaheuristic search outside machine
learning; and I don't want to hijack a group which looks healthy.

On Fri, May 27, 2011 at 12:00 PM, Mike Schachter <mike at mindmech.com> wrote:

> Hi Crutcher,
>
> I'd be interested in black box optimization. The machine learning
> group meets up on Wednesdays at 7:30pm in the Church classroom:
>
> https://www.noisebridge.net/index.php?title=Machine_Learning
>
> Just speaking for myself, I'd be happy to see you share time/space
> with the ML group to talk about optimization, as it's a core part of
> machine learning.
>
> We don't have anything going on next week, and you're welcome to
> come in to talk about stuff, I'd be happy to discuss optimization with
> you!
>
>  mike
>
>
>
> On Fri, May 27, 2011 at 10:10 AM, Crutcher Dunnavant <crutcher at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > I am very interested in starting a black box optimization search group at
> > noisebridge. This field is called "metaheauristics"; but the name is a
> > stupid historical artifact (so says everyone in the field).
> > Optimization is, given a function f(x), searching for the x which yields
> the
> > best f(x). Black box optimization is a sub-field of optimization where
> you
> > can't analyize the function f to determine what values of x are likely to
> be
> > good; so you have to search the space for them.
> > The following algorithms are ALL metaheuristic optimization:
> > Hill Climbing (aka. Gradient Assent/Descent)
> > Genetic Search
> > Genetic Programming
> > Ant Colony Systems
> > Particle Swarm Optimization
> > I've recently read a fabulous undergraduate text on the subject, very
> > approachable, called "Essentials of Metaheuristics".
> > The book in question is available from Lulu and Amazaon:
> > http://www.cs.gmu.edu/~sean/book/metaheuristics/
> > or you can just download the PDF.
> > http://www.cs.gmu.edu/~sean/book/metaheuristics/Essentials.pdf
> >
> > If you aren't sure what I'm talking about, read the first chapter or two.
> If
> > you have a background in programming, you should be able to follow it
> > trivially.
> > What I want TrollSearch to do: Build Shit
> > Let's find interesting problems; and build search algorithms over them.
> This
> > can apply to evolving good fit 3d models for the printer; making techno;
> or
> > identifying penii.
> > I'd like TrollSearch to look much more like SpaceBridge than like the
> Python
> > Class.
> > Please comment in-thread if you are interested.
> > --
> > Crutcher Dunnavant <crutcher at gmail.com>
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> > Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> > https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
> >
> >
>



-- 
Crutcher Dunnavant <crutcher at gmail.com>
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